France raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered western Europe; overall toll up to 53

France storm death toll hits 47; overall up to 53

PARIS – France’s interior minister says the death toll from a violent storm that lashed western France with hurricane-force winds has risen to 47. At least six people died in other countries.
Most deaths are concentrated in France’s Vendee region on the Atlantic coast.
Minister Brice Hortefeux told …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : France raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered western Europe; overall toll up to 53.

Suspects in east Texas church arsons grew up together in small church near torched buildings

Arson suspects grew up together in Texas church

TYLER, Texas – Even as authorities closed in, one of the two suspects in a string of east Texas church fires attended a Sunday service and went to a Baptist ministry on his junior college campus for a free meal.
Such activity wasn’t unusual for 19-year-old Jason Robert Bourque, …. Source  : Suspects in east Texas church arsons grew up together in small church near torched buildings.

World stocks advance amid Greece hopes, China manufacturing news; oil tops $80 a barrel

World stocks gain amid Greece hopes, China data

HONG KONG – Global stocks advanced Monday amid new hopes of a bailout for debt-ridden Greece and as slower Chinese manufacturing eased worries the government would accelerate steps to cool the world’s third-largest economy.
European shares opened up and major Asian markets posted their second day of gains. Oil … Read more >>.

Interior minister raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered France’s western coast

France raises death toll to 47 in fierce storm

PARIS – France’s interior minister says the death toll from a violent storm with hurricane-force winds that lashed western France has risen to 47. At least six deaths have been reported in other countries.
Most deaths are concentrated in the Vendee region on the Atlantic coast.
Brice Hortefeux said …. Original article  : Interior minister raises death toll to 47 from storm that battered France’s western coast.

AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll over 700 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Police fired tear gas and imposed an overnight curfew to control looters who sacked virtually every market in this hard-hit city as Chile’s earthquake toll surpassed 700. President Michelle Bachelet promised imminent deliveries of food, water and …. Original article  : AP Top News at 3:46 a.m. EST.

Death toll in Chile quake above 700 as rescuers save trapped survivors, looters empty stores

Chile quake death toll over 700 as rescue ramps up

CONCEPCION, Chile – Police fired tear gas and imposed an overnight curfew to control looters who sacked virtually every market in this hard-hit city as Chile’s earthquake toll surpassed 700. President Michelle Bachelet promised imminent deliveries of food, water and shelter for thousands living on the …. Source article  : Death toll in Chile quake above 700 as rescuers save trapped survivors, looters empty stores.

AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : AP Top News at 3:20 a.m. EST.

AP Top News at 3:18 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:18 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Read the original article  : here.

AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Read the original article  : AP Top News at 3:17 a.m. EST.

Chile quake toll reaches 711, 90 aftershocks (Second Lead)

SANTIAGO – The streets were deserted Sunday night in Concepcion, Chile’s second largest city, amidst a curfew imposed to clamp down on looting a day after the South American nation was rocked by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake that has claimed at least 711 lives.

An estimated 90 aftershocks continued to rattle the region since the early Saturday …. Original source  : Chile quake toll reaches 711, 90 aftershocks (Second Lead).

Suicide car bomb kills 1 NATO service member, 4 civilians in southern Afghanistan

Bomb kills NATO service member, 4 Afghan civilians

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber attacked a NATO convoy Monday outside the major southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing one NATO service member and four Afghan civilians, officials said.
The attacker waited in a station-wagon taxi near a bridge between the airport and city that NATO troops …. Source article on Gaea Times at  : Suicide car bomb kills 1 NATO service member, 4 civilians in southern Afghanistan.

Teenage brother, sister driving toward Conn. home die when their car crashes into utility pole

Brother, sister die in car crash near Conn. home

MILFORD, Conn. – A teenager driving with his younger sister has crashed into a utility pole near their Connecticut home, killing both of them.
Police say the crash happened Sunday afternoon in Milford, a city of about 50,000 residents an hour north of New York City.
They say a …. Read the original article  : here.

Two boys held for raping 16-year-old

LUCKNOW – Two Class 11 boys have been arrested for allegedly raping their 16-year-old classmate at gunpoint in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh, police said Monday.

The two were nabbed late Sunday from Rajuaha forest area, about 400 km from Lucknow, police Inspector R.K. Singh told reporters.
The girl was abducted and raped Friday by three …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

AP Top News at 1:49 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 1:49 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Afghan government: Car bomb aimed at NATO troops kills 4 civilians; NATO toll unknown

Afghanistan: 4 civilians die in suicide car bomb

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – A suicide car bomber targeted NATO forces Monday outside the major southern Afghan city of Kandahar, killing four civilians, the Interior Ministry said. It was not immediately known if there were any NATO casualties.
The attacker waited in a station-wagon taxi near a bridge between the …. Original article  : Afghan government: Car bomb aimed at NATO troops kills 4 civilians; NATO toll unknown.

Another 6.2-magnitude aftershock hits Chile

WASHINGTON – A day after a 8.8-magnitude earthquake ravaged Chile’s Concepcion city, a fresh 6.2-magnitude aftershock hit central Chile late Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

According to Xinhua, the temblor was centred 109 km northeast of the city of Talca and struck at a depth of 35 km, the USGS said.
A number … Read : Another 6.2-magnitude aftershock hits Chile.

Some scientists defend tsunami predictions after giant waves failed to materialize

Some scientists defend tsunami warnings
HONOLULU – The warning was ominous, its predictions dire: Oceanographers issued a bulletin telling Hawaii and other Pacific islands that a killer wave was heading their way with terrifying force and that “urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property.”

But the devastating tidal surge predicted after Chile’s magnitude 8.8-earthquake … Read : Some scientists defend tsunami predictions after giant waves failed to materialize.

Security up in major Himachal temples

SHIMLA – Security has been stepped up in leading temples in Himachal Pradesh following warnings of possible strikes by a Punjab terrorist group, police said Monday.

Superintendent of Police Atul Kumar Fulzele told IANS that there had been intelligence inputs that Babbar Khalsa might target temples during the Navratra season beginning March 16.
Accordingly, security has …. Original article  : Security up in major Himachal temples.

AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST

AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST
Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up
CONCEPCION, Chile – Heroism and banditry mingled on Chile’s shattered streets Sunday as rescuers braved aftershocks digging for survivors and the government sent soldiers and ordered a nighttime curfew to quell looting. The death toll climbed to 708 in one … Original source on Gaea Times at : AP Top News at 12:35 a.m. EST.

Three killed during Holi in Bihar

PATNA – At least three people were killed and 12 injured during Holi revelry in Bihar, police said Monday.

Two people were killed in a village in Aurangabad district Monday while a man was shot dead in Patna district late Sunday.
Half-a-dozen people were injured in firing between two groups. “The injured were admitted to the [..] Read the original article: here.